defeat against the wales national team . by january 1889 the natives had played 36 matches in less than three months , winning 22 of them ; they had spent most of their time in the north of england , where the playing strength was strongest and the crowds largest and most profitable . in a return match on 19 january , yorkshire fielded a stronger side than in the first match and inflicted one of the natives ' heaviest losses , a 16 – 4 defeat . the team then went undefeated until 16 february , when they faced england . officials of the strictly amateur rugby football union ( rf ##u ) had become increasingly concerned at the behaviour of the new zealand ##ers , regarding
defeat against the wales national team. by january 1889 the natives had played 36 matches in less than three months, winning 22 of them ; they had spent most of their time in the north of england, where the playing strength was strongest and the crowds largest and most profitable. in a return match on 19 january, yorkshire fielded a stronger side than in the first match and inflicted one of the natives'heaviest losses, a 16 – 4 defeat. the team then went undefeated until 16 february, when they faced england. officials of the strictly amateur rugby football union ( rfu ) had become increasingly concerned at the behaviour of the new zealanders, regarding